Movies about ethical non-monogamy
We have been collecting and reviewing films that depict polyamory, swinger or open relationships for years. Here do we publish a subjective list of these with my short commentaries and "relevance points".
Relevance points (1-10, before the title) shows how relevant and useful we found the given movie for those who are beginners in ethical non-monogamy. The more realistic a film according to our personal experience and the more desirable, the better is the relationship among the people involved we gave higher points to the films.
Too bad means we couldn't make ourselves to watch through the series/movie for the reason we mention in the description.
We constantly work on the list. Is there a movie that you can't find on the list but that should be here? Please send us your recommendation here: info@nonmono.org!
(Please note that this site is based on the translation of the Hungarian version and many explanations are yet not available in English. We are working on the translations! )
10/10 Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Woody Allen's classic is a well-known example among the films displaying consensual non-monogamy. Juan Antonio always acts ethically and the relations and emotions among the three lovers are much deeper than some occasional sexuality. The female characters are independent and equal members of the triad so to cut the long story short: if you are curious about polyamory this film is highly recommended!
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/10 Swingers
Swingers is not simply a very realistic and profound depiction of a first-time swinger experience but also an artistically magnificent film. Stephan Brenninkmeijer did a formidable job both with the story and the direction. Check out the trailer and spare 93 minutes on this movie. It is going to be useful and will bring you a lot to discuss!
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/10 The Holy Quaternity
The Holy Quaternity (or 4some) is a great film to start with if you are interested in swinger or polyamory. It makes you laugh and think at the same time while you can peek into the life of two friendly couples who are stretching their boundaries. Available with English subtitles.
Watch the trailer

10/8 Gloomy Sunday
This movie has many many artistically problematic points. To be honest, in the first 40 minutes I almost quit watching but it was worth to hold on. Gloomy Sunday shows us a far-from-perfect but loveable relationship among a beautiful woman and two men who first compete with each other but later get able to find the other's values in a horrible historical era.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/8 Professor Marston and the Wonder women
Remarkable movie, that shows the real story of a triad with great acting and photography. Definitely a recommended one, just please note that BDSM is a possible, but not necessary the part of the non-monogamous relationships.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/8 The Art of Loving- The Story of Michalina Wislocka
A fascinating movie that has an extra layer for everybody coming from Eastern-Europe. The film depicts a real story, the Polish Michalina Wislocka's struggle to teach everyday people to be more conscious about sex. The film has a significant polyamory-related part.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/8 "5 to 7"
An enticing movie that depicts very realistic characters and many typical problematic situations for those who want to get more into open relationships. There is a very important mistake in the plot that brings down its relevancy score, but I need to spoiler to explain it.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/5 Splendor
The movie tells us a story about four people in one love "quadrangle" through the eyes of a charming lady with pretty stereotypic characters.
For the first sight it might look like a "real polyamorous movie" that portrays a theoretically efficient relationship. In my humble opinion it's an extremely disfunctional, toxic relationship, that contains hidden traps. I explain it more with spoliers below.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/5 I love you. And you. And you.
A short documentary about polyamory. Please note that the movie dates back to 2006, and a lot has changed since in the scene, the lifestyle got more accepted and widespread, I think. There is a huge problem with the film as I'll explain with spoilers below.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the film

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/4 Dreamers
Many mention this movie as one of the most important movies about polyamory, but if somebody wants to understand ethical non-monogamy from this film may arrive at very bad consequences. I won't recommend it as a first, introductory movie. I tell more with spoilers below.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/4 Love
Sometimes it's pretty hard to decide whether Gaspar Noé wanted to direct an art film or a porn movie. It became very - maybe even too - naturalistic, also because of the excellent photography.
This movie is more about sexual adventures, cheating and jealousy than ethical, working relationships. The film doesn't show any useful example for us but depicts various mistakes and emergency situations that might be good to think over if you are to start an ethical non-monogamous life.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/2 Nyitva (Open)
A Hungarian movie that is literally not worth to see. The characters are extremely stereotypical, the situations are unrealistic and the solutions are banal. It was a real pain to watch.
Watch the trailer

10/2 Love to love
A humorous, lovely, enjoyable film that has some reference about polyamory. Good movie with low relevance.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
10/1 Bitter moon
In the centre of this movie is an open relationship but it is anything but ethical. I can not recommend it as a guidance to ethical non-monogamy!
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
(Too bad) You, me and her
We were just not able to watch more than three episodes. I think this is how might lesbians feel when they see lesbian porn: it is just unrealistic and my nurture false ideas in the beginner polyamorists mind.
This is how somebody imagines ethical non-monogamy, who are not polyamorous themselves...
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
(Too bad) Drei
The film itself was artistically too bad and too unrealistic that we couldn't make it until the end.
I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Watch the trailer

I also have some critical notes but it may spoiler the movie. Click on the red button if you still want to read it!
Not rated yet Lutine
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Not rated yet The Three of Hearts: A Postmodern Family
The official website of the film
Not rated yet A home at the end of the world
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